The Queen of Vipers || Fred Weasley

III.II

Andromeda made drop scones —which are really just thick pancakes— for breakfast.

Electra wished the witch wouldn't watch her eat with such intent. She could feel the older witch's gaze burning the side of her face. She just thanked Merlin Andromeda didn't meet her during her time at Our Fair Lady; Electra feared what she'd've done then.

"Oi, mum, you're making her uncomfortable," said Tonks, acknowledging her unease, with one of her knees tucked into her chest and a mouth full of buttery pancakes. Her hair that morning was a mint coloured french bob. Subject to change of course.

Electra wondered what it would be like if she were a Metamorphmagi like Tonks... life at Our Fair Lady would have been very interesting, that much would have been sure.

Tonks shoved another forkful of pancake into her mouth before speaking again. "She's practically squirming in her s— whoops!" She knocked over her glass of water while pointing her fork at Electra. Andromeda hardly seemed to register her daughter's fumble, but picked up her wand off the table and gave it a lazy swoosh nonetheless, all while keeping her watchful eyes on Electra. The water evaporated instantly and Tonks's glass was set right and refilled.

Andromeda set her wand back on the table and sat back in her chair. "She's too peaky," she said with her dark grey eyes shrewd up in scrutiny. "And her clothes hang off of her." She tugged the sleeve of Electra's button down dress.

She hadn't lost that much weight. Melodramatics clearly do run in the family.

Across the table, Electra caught the tight-lipped grin Lupin was hiding behind a Daily Prophet. She bet he was thinking of how she looked when they'd first met. "Besides," continued Andromeda as she dropped Electra's sleeve, "she'll need all the energy she can get for this afternoon."

Sirius groaned at the end of the kitchen table and threw his head back in protest. His vest was undone, and he had his black button up open over his chest, his dark tattoos on display, as if he gave up dressing halfway through. Her uncle seemed very interested in whatever article he was reading all of a sudden.

"Oh mum," moaned Tonks. She slumped back into her chair for effect. "Can't we have a day off?"

"You had one yesterday."

"It's still the weekend—"

"You'll have a break when every creature is out of this house."

Creature? Electra supposed she couldn't be talking about the horribly named house-elf...

Tonks' shoulders slumped. "But Electra just got here. Can't we—"

"Take it up with Molly when she gets here," cut off Andromeda as she rose from the table, taking her empty plate with her. "I won't hear of it any further."

Molly? she thought to herself. That name didn't sound familiar.

Tonks stuck at her tongue, which she morphed to be very long (like a member of KISS), with a scrunch of her face once her mother's back was turned. Sirius, one arm was slung over the back of his chair and the other drumming his fingers on the table, tsked. Electra hated to admit that he looked damn cool. "You used to be fun, you know."

"Yes," sighed Andromeda. "Parenthood tends to help one mature. You should try it sometime."

"Oo-hoo," laughed Tonks. "Burn."

Sirius flipped both Andromeda and Tonks the finger. Tonks just chuckled at it. Sirius's dark grey eyes caught her watching him and he sent her a good natured wink. Electra scowled at him. She watched his face fall before returning her focus to her pancakes.